First there was the #100HappyDays craze then there was the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge.
Though the intent is admirable, most facebook trends that raise or benefit various causes can receive a certain amount of backlash.
The latest of these is the Facebook Motherhood Challenge which asks moms to post photos with their kids and to tag other “awesome moms” that they know using the hashtag, #MotherhoodChallenge.
A typical post reads something like this:
I was nominated for the Motherhood Challenge! I’m posting 3 pictures that make me happy to be a mother and I’m tagging some friends I think are great mothers, too!
I was nominated to post some pictures that make me happy to be a Mother I’m tagging some friends that I think are great Mothers to post some pictures for the Motherhood Challenge.
I was nominated by XXXX to post 4 pictures that make me happy to be a Mother! I’m tagging 3 people that I think are great Mothers to post 4 pictures for the Motherhood Challenge!
Many moms have gotten into the craze and have been having fun with posting their photos and tagging their friends.
But another group of Facebook users, some of whom are also moms, feel that the trend is insensitive and alienates a lot of people.
#motherhoodchallenge thank you Alex my baby girl for nominating me these are my five pics of proud motherhood moments… Posted by Carrie Kiddle on Tuesday, February 2, 2016
Motherhood challenge: I was nominated and asked to post 3 pictures that make me happy to be a mother. I’m tagging people… Posted by Kanoe Schutte on Wednesday, February 3, 2016
On the next page, find out why many people find the #MotherhoodChallenge annoying
What’s designed to uplift causes hurt
“This bragging and tagging seems to have brought out the worst aspects of motherhood and social media, without any thought for how it might feel not to be tagged by a friend (whether you’re a mother or not) and what it might be like for the childless amongst their Facebook friends to have their timelines flooded with even more cute pictures of motherhood and children than usual,” Jody Day, founder of Gateway Women, a support group for childless women, tells Mashable.
She further states the challenge “trivializes motherhood” and that “No one is an awesome mom 24/7”. To her, therein lies the fatal flaw of the Motherhood Challenge for many people.
Those women who’ve lost children to stillbirths, miscarriages, and the like, for instance. And what if: you’re a mom and yet none of your facebook friends tag you as one of the “awesome moms” they know?
But though many disagree with the viral trend, they manage to find humor in it.
One comedian who was mistagged by one of her friends but isn’t a mom posted this collage with a caption that reads:
“Non-Motherhood Challenge: I was nominated by myself to post five pictures that make me happy to be a non-mother. Such special memories.”
Non-Motherhood Challenge: I was nominated by myself to post five pictures that make me happy to be a non-mother. Such special memories. Posted by Ellie Taylor on Monday, February 1, 2016
Another amusing response is this collage posted by facebook user, Vikki Stone, who considers herself a mom to her adorable pup.
I was nominated for the #motherhoodchallenge. Here are my favourite photos of what it means to be a mother. Posted by Vikki Stone on Monday, February 1, 2016
What do you think of the Facebook Motherhood Challenge?
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Also read: How motherhood changed me: Perfection in Imperfection